Specifying commercial aluminium entrance doors

Describe the entrance and its users

A public entrance, a staff-only door and an entrance to an industrial office may have different patterns of use. Describe who will pass through, how access is managed and whether the opening forms part of a larger glazed screen.

For an existing building, explain what works well and what needs to change. Photographs, opening dimensions and information about occupation during the work help establish the brief.

Make the door schedule complete

Give every door a reference that also appears on the drawings. Include quantities and distinguish overall frame dimensions from any required clear opening, so the project team is discussing the same measurements.

Read the schedule alongside the entrance elevation and specification. Identify the following details and mark any items supplied by other trades.

• Opening dimensions and door handing
• Glazing and finish specification
• Hardware and access-control requirements
• Applicable project performance requirements
• Installation and interface responsibilities

Coordinate hardware before the details are fixed

Handles, closers, locking and access-control requirements affect how the doors operate. Discuss these with the selected aluminium system, including any interfaces with electrical contractors or specialist suppliers.

Your design team should identify the accessibility, security, fire and escape requirements for the entrance. They need to be considered in the proposed door and hardware arrangement before manufacture.

Check performance for the complete doors

Thermal, weather and security information needs to apply to the doors being proposed. Size, glazing, hardware and threshold choices can affect the assembly, so check the supporting information for that configuration.

List specialist requirements explicitly in the specification, including the evidence your project team will need. This allows them to be considered during system selection and quotation.

Coordinate adjacent glazing and other trades

Doors within curtain walling or fixed screens need compatible framing, drainage and finish details. Include the whole entrance elevation so those interfaces can be reviewed together.

For occupied premises, explain how access will be maintained during the work and whether the installation needs phasing. Establish responsibility for opening preparation and adjoining finishes as part of the scope.

Define supply and installation responsibilities

Choose supply-only if your team is managing installation, or ask AW to supply and install. Agree delivery, unloading, site access and the completion information required for handover.

We manufacture commercial aluminium entrance doors in Doncaster for UK projects. Bring us the schedule, elevations and brief to discuss the system, fabrication and next steps.

Explore commercial aluminium entrance doors

Send your door schedule to AW